Printing device for tabulating machines for perforated cards



Aug. 28, 1934,

K. A. KNUTSEN PRINTING DEVICEYFOR TA BULATING MACHINES FOR PERFORATED CARDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild May 26. 1931 Aug. 28, 1934. K,-.=-A KNUTSE N I 1,971,853

PRINTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES FOR PERFORATED CARDS Filed May 26. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wzm Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MA! CHINES FOR PERFORATED CARDS Knut Andreas Knutsen, Oslo, Norway Application May 26, 1931, Serial No. 540,166 In Norway June 4, 1930 16 Claim.

which the type elements are automatically selected and rendered operative, the selected type being caused to roll upon a record bearing sheet.

supported by a platen. Thus the type may be rendered operative by a detecting mechanism, the latter functioning in response to perforations or other markings on cards such as those hereinbefore referred to. The specific form of detecting mechanism is not an essential feature of the present invention, the printing apparatus disclosed herein being suitable for association with various constructions of detecting mechanisms such as are well known in the art to which the invention relates.

In the embodiments of the invention selected for the purpose of illustration a plurality of separate type elements are provided, each type element being mounted on a separate type carrier. The several type carriers are in turn movably supported on a rotatable drum, and when selected by the detecting mechanism for operation, the selected carriers are shifted with respect to the drum in such manner as to cause the type elements to roll upon the paper to effect the printing.

It is a feature of the invention that the printing apparatus is simple in construction and entirely automatic in operation, the various type elements being positively selected in response to the presence of perforations in the cards at predetermined points. Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent'from the following description.

In the appended drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through the printing device.

r Fig. 2 shows the details of the printing device with a type in position for printing.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the printing device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the modus operandi of a known type of tabulating machine for perforated cards.

Fig. 5 showsa diagram of the electric circuit of the printing device.

Fig. 6 shows a second arrangement for a printing device according to the invention, and

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show details of this arrangement with the type-carrier in different positions.

Inthe preferred form of the invention, the printing device consists of a series of disks or drums 58 (see Figs. 1 and 3) which are keyed on a shaft 60, and turn together with it in the 50 direction of the arrow, synchronously with the movement of the cards in the tabulating machine past a contact device 84 (see Fig. 4).

The number of drums 58 is equal to the number of figure-bearing wheels of all the counters of the tabulating machine, so that for each'figurebearing wheel a corresponding drum 58 is provided. On the circumference of each drum 58 is pivoted a series of type-carriers 42-in this case ten-which are provided on their end-surin which they are inactive in which position they are shown in Fig. 1, and they move, :as the shaft 60 turns, in front of the band of paper 56 synchronously with the card, in such manner that, when the portionv of a card on which a. certain indication, for instance a perforation represent- .ing a value, passes the contact device 84 of the tabulating machine (Figure 5), the corresponding type representing the value in question is passing and lies opposite the band ofpaper on the platen or roller 55. Y I

Printing takes place as follows: The type, which is to be printed on the paper, is stopped when it passes opposite roller 55, so that the retation of that type round the shaft 60 ceases.

As the drum 58 keeps moving constantly, the type is given a relative rotation about its axis 64, and thus it is pressed against the paper and the roller 55. The end surface of the type-carriers, to which the type is attached, or rather the surface of the type itself, is made of such a shape that the direction of the pressure between the type and the roller during printing passes through the axis of rotation 64 of the type-carrier, or nearly so, and the type thus rolls against the paper. Conveniently, a selected. type-carrier may be controlled indirectly by means of the blocking lever 33, which turns about the axis 88, teengage and hold the arm 34 which turns about the pivot 62'on the drum 58. Through this arm, the toothed wheel'39, whichissecured to the arm 34, turns about the pivot 62, and this movement is transmitted through the intermediate wheel 40 which turns aboutthe pivot 63, to the toothed wheel 41 on which is keyed or integrally formed the type-carrier 42. As these wheels are of substantially equal diameter, the type-carrier 42 will turn about the axis 64 synchronously with the turning of the arm 34 about the pivot 62. Since the distance of the type from the axis 64 is equal, or almost equal, to the length of the arm 34, measured from the center of pivot 62, the type will be held or moved in exactly the same way as the point of the arm 34, i. e. as if the type had been held directly by the blocking lever 33, and This rotative movement of the type about the pivot 64 serves to press the type against the paper. By proper selection of the distance of the type from the pivotal axis 64 and a correct curvature of the type surface, the type will roll against the paper when pressed against it.

The support for the band of paper 56 should preferably be made slightly yielding. To this end the said support may be made of India rubber or any other resilient substance, as is the case with roller of Figures 2 and 3, or it may be mounted elastically, as is block 109 of the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8. As shown in the last mentioned figures, instead of a roller, a plane surface can be used for supporting the band of paper, said surface being that of block 109 which is mounted on support 116 and is subjected to the action of a spring 110. The relative rotation of the type carrier can be controlled by lever 33 either directly, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, or indirectly, through suitable means, asshown in Figures 2 and 3. It will readily be understood that the different parts can be so arranged either as to positively control the rotation of the type carrier during the whole of the printing operation, or as to control it during only a part of that printing operation, the friction between the type and the paper being then sufficient to maintain the type carrier in the proper posi-,

tion during the remainder of that operation. The lever 34 and, through it, the type-carrier 42 are returned, when the printing is finished, to their initial position, by means of the spiral spring 35 which acts between the arm 94, connected with arm 34, and the disk 59 which is fixed on the drum 58.

For each drum 58 a blocking lever 33 is pro- 'vided, which is held by the spiral spring 96 against the stop 97 on the arm 32. The arm 32 is in turn held in position by the spiralspring 6'7, and can be moved about the axis 65. The arm 32 is displaced by the armature 45 of the magnet 44, by means of two rods 66 and 46 and the bell crank lever 31, which turns about the pivot 43. A magnet 44 is provided for each blocking lever 33. The axles 64, 63, and 62 on which the members 39, 40, and 41 are rotatably supported can pass through all the drums 58.

4 shows diagrammatically one of the known tabulating machines for perforated cards. That machine is of the type described in U. S. Patent No. 1,514,503. From a receptacle 79 the cards are passed one by one by means of a feeding device 80 through a pair of rollers 81 past a contact device 84 between a second pair of rollers 82 to the receptacle 83. The contact device 84 consists of a bell crank lever, the horizontal branch of which is provided with a boss adapted to engage in the perforations of the cards. The upper end of the vertical branch of said lever bears against a contact 86 which is normally paced from another contact 87.

Intermediate the rollers 81 and 82 the cards pass beneath the projection 84 on a bell crank lever which is urged in a clockwise direction by means of a coiled spring. The free end of the bell crank lever engages an electrical switch, the contact members 86 and 87 of which are normally separated. When a perforation in a card passes beneath the projection 84 on the bell crank lever, the lever will be rocked very slightly to engage the contact elements 86 and 87 and close a circuit, for instance as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Thus the contact elements 86 and 87 may be included in a circuit comprising the source of current 92 and the solenoid 44 so that on engagement of these contact elements the armature 45 will be attracted (see Fig. 1). This movement is transmitted through the rod 46, the bell crank lever 31 and rod 65, to arm 32; blocking lever 33 is thereby released and moved by the spiral spring 96 to the position indicated by dotted lines. In this position the blocking lever 33 strikes against arm 34 and holds it. Thus when the drum 58 turns in the direction of the arrow, printing is effected, as already described. When now the arm 34 turns about the pivot 62, it forces the blocking lever 33 back past its original position, so far that the arm 37, pulled by the spiral spring 68, drops into the notch 120 on the blocking lever 33, and locks this lever in that position until all the types have passed through the position for printing. The cam 38 on shaft 101 which moves synchronously with the shaft 60, will then depress the arm 37 and thus release the lever 33 which then returns to its original position in engagement with the stop 97 on arm 32. During 110 the printing of a type the drum 58 continues to turn and, when the printing is finished, the arm 34 separates from the blocking lever, and the type-carrier 42 is withdrawn into an inactive position by the spring 35.

A drum 58 is provided for each column of the card to be tabulated, and every position inthe column is represented by a type-carrier 42. The shaft 60 rotates, as hereinbefore stated, synchronously with the passing of the cards past the contact, so that when the position in a column representing value 9 is beneath the contact, the type 9 will be in a position for printing; 1. e. in such a position that the blocking lever 33, if released at this moment, will engage and hold the arm 34 belonging to type 9. If value 8 passes beneath the contact, type 8 will be in position for printing, etc. In Fig. 1, the type 9 is in position for printing, and the types pass successively through this position in the order, 9; 8; '7; and so on to 0.

It will readily be understood that by means of the selective switch (Figure 5), contact ae' a'z may be coupled with the circuit of the magnet 44 of any drum 58, so that the types carried by said drum may be made to correspond with any desired column of the cards.

The band 01' paper 56 is fed through rollers 111, 112, by means of which the paper may be advanced in timed relation with the rotation of shaft 60.

Another construction of the printing device is shown in Figs. 6 to 8 in which, Fig. 6 shows the blocking lever 33 in non-active position, Fig. '7 shows the blocking lever 33 released in the moment when the hook 108 strikes against the hook 114 and Fig. 8 shows the position of the blocking lever 33 and the type-carrier 105 in the'moment when the printing of the type, or the rolling of the type on the paper is half completed.

authe blocking lever 33, whereby the hook 108 of the type-carrier will be stopped. As the drum 58 is moving constantly, the type-carrier is forced to turn about the axis 113, and the type 61 is pressed against the paper. The hook 108 turns with the type-carrier about the axis 113, and forces thus the hook 114 and, through it, the blocking lever backwards against the paper. As a movement of the hook 114 has to be invariably a movement about the shaft 115 of the arm 33, the hook 114 will have to move along the dotted line AB which forms a part of a circle with the axis 115 as center. The position of axis 115, and thus the position of the curve AB, can be fixed in such a manner that the type moves vertically against the paper, and that the rolling of the type on the paper can be effected without difficulty. During the printing, the hook 114 is pushed still farther along the curve AB by the hook 108 until the printing is completed, and the type released from the paper.

For convenience the apparatus disclosed and claimed in this application has been described as capable of use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, it being understood that this expression is employed merely to indicate the general nature and function of the machine. Thus there is no intention to'limit the invention to a machine employing a specific type of card, it being quite obvious that the structure claimed is capable of use with machines employing cards provided with conducting material or visible printed indications or 'the like in lieu of the more commonly used perforated cards.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing device for tabulating machines comprising a plurality of discs,a plurality of type-carriers associated with each disc, said type-carriers being pivoted on the periphery of the corresponding disc, a platen adapted to receive a band of paper, means for rotating said type carriers with respect to said discs in such manner as to cause the type to roll on the band of paper, said means comprising, for each disc, a blocking lever, an actuating spring for said lever, a hook at one end of said lever for cooperation with the type-carriers, the other end of said lever being provided with a nose and a notch, a

releasing device and a spring stop for cooper ating respectively with .said nose and said notch and means for actuating said stop. I

2. In a printing device for tabulating machines,-a platen adapted to receive a band of paper, a series of rotatable discs located adjacent said platen, each disc supporting a series.

of type-carriers, a blocking lever for each disc, a hook, a tooth and a notch on each blocking lever, each type-carrier being able to oscillate about an axle secured on the disc, a balancing lever secured on the disc and integral with the type-carrier, the balancing lever being connected with the corresponding type-carrier by means of similar pinions, the said balancing lever being provided witha return spring and a head for engagement with the hook'of the blocking lever and causing the type of the type-carrier to come into rolling contact with the band of paper.

3. In a printing device for tabulating machines, a platen adapted to receive a band of paper, a series of rotatable discs located adjacent said platen, each disc supporting a series of type-carriers, a blocking lever for each disc, a' hook, a tooth and a notch on each blocking lever, each type-carrier being able to oscillate about an axle secured on the disc, a return spring and a -finger for each type-carrier, which finger co-operates with .the hook-of the blocking lever for causing the latter to come into contact with the band of paper and for printing by rolling on the said band the type supported by the typecarrier.

4. A printingdevice for use in connection with tabulating machines for perforated cards which comprises in combination, a support adapted to receive a band of paper, a plurality of revolving discs disposed opposite said support, a plurality of type carriers pivoted to each of said discs, said type carriers being so positioned on said discs and so shaped as to be able to roll on said band of paper, and means for rotating said type carriers with respect to said discs in such manner as to cause the type to roll on the band of paper.

5. A printing machine for use in connection with tabulating machines for perforated cards which comprises in combination, a support adapted to receive a band of paper, a plurality of revolving discs disposed opposite said support, a plurality of type carriers pivoted to each of said discs, a lever pivoted about a stationary axis, and means for causing theend of said lever to engage and rotate a selected type carrier to bring it into contact with said band of paper, each type carrier being so positioned on said disc and so shaped as to be compelled to roll on said band of paper once it has come in contact therewith.

6. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines. of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination with a platen adapted .to receive a record shee. a rotatable member located adjacent said platen a plurality of type elements pivotally supported or. and about the periphery of said member and successively movable with the latter past the platen, said type element being so shaped as to be. capable of rolling on said platen, and means for engaging a selected one of said type elements to cause the same toroll about the point of pivotal support thereof and on the surface of the platen.

, 7. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination with a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, movable supporting means located adjacent to and movable past said platen, a plurality of type elements pivotally mounted on said supporting means, means for engaging a selected one of said type elements for swinging the same about the pivot ing machines of the type employing perforated.

cards and the like, the combination with a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a movable support adjacent the platen, a plurality of type elements morably mounted on saidsupport for rolling engagement with the platen, and means for moving a selected one of said type elements with respect to the support during movement of the latter to cause the selected type element to roll upon the platen.

9. In printing apparatus the combination with a platen, of a plurality of type elements, means adjacent said platen for supporting said type elements for rolling engagement with the platen, and means for selecting and imparting combined translational and rotational movement to the type element thus selected to cause the same to roll upon the platen.

10. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination with a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a rotatable member located adjacent said platen, a plurality of type elements pivotally supported on and about the periphery of said member and successively movable with the latter past the platen, means for yieldably retaining said type elements in inoperative position out of engagement with the platen? and mechanism for selecting and swinging one of said type elements against the action of said yielding means into a position in which it may engage with and roll across the platen about its point of pivotal support.

11. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination with a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a rotatable member located adjacent said platen, a plurality of type elements pivotally supported on and about the periphery ofsaid member and successively movable with the latter past the platen, means for retarding the movement with the rotatable member of a selected one of said type elements to cause the latter to swing about its point of pivotal support into engagement with that portion of the platen which is adjacent the pivotal support, whereby rolling of the selected type element on the platen is effected, and yielding means for urging said type elements about their points of pivotal support in the opposite direction to normally retain the same out of engagement with the platen.

12. In a printing apparatus for usein tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination .of a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a plurality of rotatable members located adjacent said platen, said members rotating about an axis located sub stantially in'a plane normal to the platen at the printing point, a plurality of type elements pivotally supported on and about the periphery of said members, and successively movable with the latter past the platen, and means for engaging a selected one of said type elements to cause it to turn about the point of pivotal support on said member, the printing face of each type element printing point, a plurality of type elements piv- I otally supported on and about the periphery of 14. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination of a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a plurality of type elements, movable means for pivotally supporting said type elements located adjacent to said platen and movable with respect thereto so as to bring said elements successively toward the platen and away from it, means for engaging a selected one of said type elements as the printing surface of this element is still moving toward the platen, means for rotating the selected type element with relation to its supporting means so as to cause said element to further move toward the platen until the printing surface strikes said platen and rolls thereon, the printing surface of said type element being so shaped as to be capable of rolling on said platen.

15. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination of a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a plurality of type elements located adjacent to said platen and movable with respect thereto so as to bring said elements successively toward the platen and away from it, means for engaging a selected one of said type elements as the printing surface of said element is still moving toward 'the platen, and means for rotating the selected type element with relation to its supporting means so as to cause said element to further move toward the platen until the printing surface strikes said platen, the printing surface of said type element being so shaped as to be capable of rolling on the platen, said element being so positioned on its supporting means as to be jammed between the platen and the point of pivotal support of said element as soon as it comes into contact with said sheet, in such a manner that the friction between the sheet and the printing face of the type element causes said type element to further rotate about its point of pivotal support, and thus produces the rolling movement of the type element on the platen.

16. In a printing apparatus for use in tabulating machines of the type employing perforated cards and the like, the combination of a platen adapted to receive a record sheet, a rotatable member located adjacent said platen, a plurality of type elements pivotally supported on and about the periphery of said member and successively movable with the latter past the platen, said platen being so positioned with respect to said member and the type elements supported thereby that a selected type element may be swung about the point of pivotal support thereof into engagement with the platen to exert pressure between the type element and the platen substantially on a line passing through the point of pivotal support of the type element, and means for engaging a selected one of said type elements to cause the same to swing about the point of pivotal support thereof into engagement with the platen.

KNU'I ANDREAS KNU'ISEN. 

